Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome
What
is fetal alcohol syndrome?
Does the incidence of FAS vary for different ethnic groups?
Also
See:
Prenatal Care
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What is fetal alcohol
syndrome?
The term
"alcohol-related birth defect" (ARBD) describes a range of anatomic or
functional abnormalities attributed to prenatal alcohol exposure. The most
severe effects are described as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). FAS
describes a "pattern of abnormalities observed in children born to
alcoholic mothers." FAS may result in various birth defects: prenatal
and/or postnatal growth retardation (weight and/or length below the 10th
percentile); central nervous system involvement, including neurological
abnormalities, developmental delays, behavioral dysfunction, intellectual
impairment, and skull or brain malformations; and a characteristic face
with short palpebral fissures (eye openings), a thin upper lip, and an
elongated, flattened midface and philtrum (the groove in the middle of the
upper lip). Mental handicaps and hyperactivity are probably the most
debilitating aspects of FAS, and prenatal alcohol exposure is one of the
leading known causes of mental retardation in the Western World. Problems
with learning, attention, memory, and problem solving are common, along
with in coordination, impulsiveness, and speech and hearing impairment.
Deficits in learning skills persist even into adolescence and adulthood.
Prenatal alcohol exposure may also cause a more subtle pattern of physical
and cognitive deficits, making diagnosis more difficult. Deficits in
learning skills persist into adolescence and adulthood.
Does the incidence of
FAS vary for different ethnic groups?
Yes. The incidence
varies as follows per 10,000 total births: Asians 0.3, Hispanics 0.8,
Whites 0.9, Blacks 6.0, and Native Americans 29.9. The incidence among
Native Americans varies among different tribes. Several factors, including
cultural influences, patterns of alcohol consumption, nutrition, and
metabolic differences may play a role. Even when adjusted for these
factors, the incidence for Blacks remains seven times higher than for
Whites, suggesting the potential of a genetic susceptibility to FAS.
from
The Office On Women's Health - US Department of Health and Human Services
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